The first thing I do when I get in the car is unravel the twisted, mangled wires of my headphones from around the rear-view mirror, and then I jam the earbuds into my noggin’ good and deep. I plug in, baby.

Some people might listen to music or audio books—but for me, that’s more the exception than the rule. I like to listen to other people talk. It’s the kind of eavesdropping that isn’t considered rude. If they’re talking too slow—I speed them up. If I don’t like what they’ve got to say—I cuss them out and shut them off. Nobody’s feelings are hurt.

Everything I listen to lives on my android phone. I purchased an app called Pocket Casts from the android market for a couple of bucks. It keeps me organized and even downloads new episodes of my favourite podcasts automatically. Dear Pocket Casts, I would have paid more for you.

I’ve been listening to some of these podcasts for a long time. The hosts of these shows have become trusted friends, reliable sources of information—and quite literally, the voice in my head. I laugh along with them in the confines of my car as they banter good-naturedly with each other, and I become passionately and supportively outraged when one of them takes a public flogging for their opinions. I am a secret member of their elite team. So secret, even they don’t know that I’m there. Plugged in, tuned in, and always listening. I am but one in a sea of supportive listeners that these podcasters had so desperately hoped for at their onset. They have no way of knowing how intimate our relationship has become. They travel with me on vacations, and sometimes… they join me in the tub.

If you’ve never listened to a podcast before—now’s the time. It’s easy schoolin’ if you enjoy learning new things. There are thousands upon thousands to choose from, and equally as many free apps for whatever device you have to play them.

I listen to about 12 podcasts weekly. Every week I try on new ones to see if they fit, but I always manage to stay around 12. Here’s my top 3:

TWIT – Leo Laporte and John C. Dvorak are my brothers. I would go to battle for these men. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a card-carrying member of the TWIT army.

Writing Excuses – Dan and Mary give me 15 quality minutes a week. Because I’m in a hurry, and they’re not that smart.